Cults of personality around the world

Despite sweeping the regime of Niyazov under the carpet, the current Turkmen
president Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow is using similar methods, according to
Human Rights Watch, the campaign group. His portraits have replaced those of
his predecessor and he is also, according to some reports, working on his
own book, whose working title is either “"Turkmennama" (Book
for Turkmens) or "Adamnama" (Book for Humanity).

Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow also runs the country as his personal fiefdom. A
former dentist, he has designed the new Institute of Dentistry in the shape
of a giant molar, one of many such bizarre designs. The nearby gas ministry
takes the form of a giant cigarette lighter and the main hospital is
supposed to be a giant syringe. As
Gill Charlton reported, when she visitedTurkmenistan for Telegraph Travel,
the cost of this megalomania is £40 billion and counting.